Boat



June l, 1965 Filed Aug. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LESTER T. MCDONNEU.v BYAXEL A.JoHNsoN.

ATTORNEYS L. 1'. MCDONNELL. ETAL 3,186,010

v BOAT v June l, 1965 l.. T. MCDONNELL lETAL. 3,186,010

BOAT Filed Aug. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS LESTER T. MCDONNELL. FIG. IO BY Axel. A. JOHNSON.

@Mv Wk ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,186,010 BOAT Lester T. McDonnell, 539i) Cecilia Ann Ave., Clarkston, Mich., and Axel .Iohnsom 2166 Kurtz Road, Holly, Mich.

Filed Aug. 2S, 15963, Ser. No. 365,038 12 Claims. (Cl. 9 6) Another object is to provide a hull of the foregoing character wherein the bow of the hull is composed of sheet metal united to the bottom and side planking by elongated coupling members having grooves therein for receiving the bottom and side planking.

Another object is to provide a boat of the foregoing character wherein the hull is provided with a transom or water-tight bulkhead at a location spaced forwardly from the stern of the hull, with a slot-like opening extending from the stern to the transom along the approximate center of the hull in order to receive and shield a convention- -al outboard engine for lpropelling the craft.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a boat according to one form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the boat shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a rear end or stern elevation of the boat shown in FIGURES l and 2, with the stern plates of the floats broken away to disclose the foam plastic filling thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a front end of bow elevation of the boat shown in FIGURES l and 2, also with the bow plates of the floats broken away to disclose the foam plastic filling thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 5--5 in FIGURE l, showing the elongated coupling member between the side and bottom planking of the hull and the tubular iloats or pontoons;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 6 6 in FIGURE 3, showing in cross-section the elongated coupling member between the stern and bottom planking of the hull;

FIGURE 7 is an enlar-ged fragmentary horizontal crossse-ction taken along the line 7-7 in FIGURE l, showing in cross-section the elongated coupling member between the stern and side planking `of the hull;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken lalong the line S--8 in FIGURE 4, showing in cross-section the elongated coupling member between the bottom planking and bow plating of the hull and the tubular floats or pontoons;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 9 9 in FIGURE 1, showing in cross-section the elongated grooved gunwale member receiving the top edge portion of the side .planking of the hull;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken .along the line Iii-'10 in FIGURE 2, showing in cross-section the elongated metal trim strip along the rear-ward ends of the bottom plank-ing stern extensions; and

FIGURE l1 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 11--11 in FIGURE 1, showing in cross-section the elongated channeled coupling or bilge strake between the bottom .and outer side plates of the tubular iioats or pontoons.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive show ya boat, generally designated 20, of the catamaran type including a hull, generally designated 22., adapted to contain the passengers or cargo, 'and `a pair of laterally-spaced elongated tubular buoyant floats or pontoons, generally designated 2d, disposed beneath the lateral edges of the hull 22 in spaced parallel relationship. The floats or pontoons 24 .are lled with a filling 26 of buoyant material, such as a closed-cell foam plastic, for example, styrofoam, in order toV enhance the buoyancy thereof and maintain such buoyancy even though the pontoons or oats 24 are not initially or subsequently watertight.

The hull 22 includes a pair of spaced parallel vertical side planks or Iside walls 2S having downwardly-curved forward edges 30, inclined rearward edges 32 (FIGURE 7) Iand substantially straight upper and lower edges 34 (FIGURE 9) and 36 (FIGURE 5) respectively. The hull 22 also includes a bottom plank of bottom wall 38 (FIGURES 5, 6 and 8), an inclined transom plank 40' (FIGURES 6 and 7), bottom plank extensions 42 (FIG- URES 2 and 6) and side plank extension-s 44 (FIGURES l and 7). The planks 2S, 3S, 40, 42 and 44 are conveniently made `from plywood, fiber glass or other suitable hull material, wood being shown for purposes of illustration lbut not limitation The hull 22 is completed by a bow plate 46 (FIGURES 1, `2, 4 and 8) conveniently made of sheet metal, such as aluminum, bent to follow the curved forward edges of the side planks 28 and united thereto in any suitable way, such as by fasteners (not shown) `and adequately caulked.

The lower edge i8 of the bow plate 46 is riveted or otherwise secured (FIGURE 8) to the upper flange 50 of the upwardly and forwardly-inclined base portion 512 of an elongated forward coupling member, generally designated 54, having vertically-spaced rearwardly-extending parallel upper and lower horizontal flanges 56 and 58 respectively forming -a bottom plank receiving channel 60 therebetween receiving the forward edge 62 ofthe bottom plank 38 .and riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The base portion 52 of the elongated coupling member 54 is Valso provided with a downwardly-extending flange v614 (FIGURE 8) to which is riveted or otherwise secured the upper edge portion 66 of the front wall 68 of each float or pontoon 24. The front wall 68 is conveniently formed Vof sheet metal, such as aluminum, and is inc-lined downwardly and rearwardly in conformity with the inclination of the base portion 52 of the coupling member 54 and of the lower edge portion 48 of the bow plate 46 (FIGURE 8) and is curved into a horizontal or bottom plate 7i) integral therewith and extending from stem to stern (FIGURES l, 3 and 4). The bow plate 46 is optionally provided wit-h a ru-b strake 72 of rolled or extnided material, such as aluminum or plastic secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by riveting, welding or cementing. v i

Each float or pontoon 24 in addition to its forward and bottom plate portions 68 and 70 is provided with laterallyspaced parallel outer and inner side walls 74 and 76 respectively (FIGURE 4) welded or `otherwise secured to the bottom and forward wall portions and 68. The inner side wall 76 of each oat or pontoon 24 is provided with a horizontal flange 78 by which it is secured, such as by fasteners (not shown) to the bottom plank 38. Each float or pontoon 24 is completed by an upwardly and for- 3 wardly-inclined stern plate 8@ (FIGURE 2) secured as by welding to the rearward end thereof and thereby interconnecting the rearward ends of the bottom plate and side plates 74 and 76 respectively.

The inner side plates 76 of the floats or pontoons 24 are spaced apart from one another a sullicient distance to provide a channel or tunnel 82 between them, so that the maximum buoyant effects of the floats 24 are exerted at the outer lateral edges of the hull 22. Each iloat or pontoon 24 is completed at its lower outer longitudinal edge by a hollow bilge strake 84 (FIGURE 1l) having a central main portion 86 of approximately semi-cylindrical form terminating at its inner lateral edge in a horizontal flange 88 welded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate 70 and at its outer lateral edge in a vertical flange 90 similarly welded or otherwise secured to the outer side plate 74.

The upper portion 92 of each float or pontoon outer side plate 74 is riveted or otherwise secured to the base portion 94 (FIGURE 5) of a longitudinal bottom-andside plank coupling member, generally designated 96, preferably of extruded metal, such as aluminum, having an approximately horizontal splash rail or flange 97 extending outwardly therefrom with a downwardly-bent edge bead 99. The member 96 has upper and lower flanges 98 and 100 spaced vertically apart from one another to provide a horizontal channel 102 receiving the lateral edge portion of the bottom plank 38. A vertical flange 104 extends upwardly from the upper horizontal flange 98 in spaced relationship to the vertical base portion 94 to provide a vertical channel 106 therebetween for receiving the lower edge portion of each side plank 28. The bottom plank 38 and the side planks 28 are secured in their respective channels 102 and 106 by riveting or any other suitable means.

The side planks 28 are secured to their respective side plank extensions 44 by upwardly-inclined almost Vertical elongated coupling members, generally designated 108 (FIGURE 7), preferably of extruded metal, such as aluminum, having outer and inner base portions 119 and 112 respectively spaced apart from one another and interconnected by a bridge portion 114 to provide oppositelyfacing forward and rearward vertical longitudinal channels 116 and 11S which respectively receive the adjacent edge portions of the side planks 28 and side plank extensions 44 respectively. Extending inwardly from the inner base portion 112 are spaced parallel forward and rearward flanges 120 and 122 respectively providing an inwardly-facing approximately vertical channel 124 receiving the outer side edge portions of the transom plank 40.

Secured to the bottom plank extensions 42 at their rearward edges are elongated lateral trim and rub strips, generally designated 126 (FIGURE l0), each of these having a forward horizontal upper flange 128 and an inclined rearward flange 130 respectively fitting the horizontal upper surface and inclined rearward edge surface of each bottom plank extension 42.

The upper edge of each side plank 28 is provided with an elongated cutaway portion 132 (FIGURE l) along the upper edges of which a gunwale bar 134, also preferably of extruded metal, is secured (FIGURE 9). The gunwale bar 134 consists of a horizontal base portion 136 from the opposite inner and outer edges of which vertical yinner and outer flanges 138 and 140 extend downwardly in spaced parallel relationship. An intermediate flange 142 also extends downwardly from the base portion 136 in spaced relationship to the inner flange 138 so as to provide a downwardly-open channel 144 snugly receiving the Aupper edge portion 34 of each side plank 28. The opposite The transom 48 at its midportion is provided with the usual vertically-extending reinforcement board or plate 154 (FIGURE 2) for receiving the clamps of the conventional outboard engine, which is located in the gap or space 156 between the laterally-spaced bottom plank extensions 42. The transom 40 is considerably lower than the side planks 28 (FIGURE 3) and is joined thereto by inclined forward struts 158 (FIGURE 2). Similarly, the rearward plank extensions 42 are joined to their respective side plank extensions 44 by inclined rearward struts 168. The struts 158 and 169 strengthen the hull construction at the rearward end thereof and increase its rigidity.

The lower edge portion of the transom 4) is joined to the bottom plank 38 and bottom plank extension 42 (FIG- URE 6) by an elongated transverse rearward coupling member, generally designated 162. The coupling member 162 consists of a base portion 164 having horizontal forward and rearward ilanges 166 and 168 and an upwardlyextending connecting or bridge portion 170 at the top of which is provided an approximately horizontal web portion 172. Extending upwardly at a slight inclination corresponding to the desired inclination of the transom 40 are forward and rearward flanges 174 and 176 respective, ly providing a channel or groove 178 therebetween receiving the lower edge portion of the transom 40. The web portion 172 has a forward part 180 disposed parallel to the forward flange 166 of the base portion 164 (FIG- URE 6) so as to provide therebetween a channel 182 receiving the rearward edge portion of the bottom plank 38. The web portion 172 has a rearward part 184 disposed at a slightly lower level than the forward part 180 in spaced parallel relationship to the rearward flange 168 of the base portion 164 so as to provide a channel 186 therebetween of lesser width than the channel 182 in orden to receive the forward edge portion of each bottom plank extension 42, which is slightly thinner than the bottom plank 38 (FIGURE 6).

In the use of the boat 20, the outboard engine (not shown) is clamped to the transom 40 and its inner board 154 in the usual way, and extends downwardly within the gap or space 156 between the bottom plank extensions 42 so as to be protected by the hull and guarded and shielded somewhat from the spray and waves. The gap or space 156 at the same time, by being open at its rearward end, permits upward swinging of the outboard engine so as to lift the propeller and rudder thereof out of the water or to permit it to ride over obstructions, such as logs or rocks. The floats or pontoons 24 apply their buoyant effects at the outer lateral edges of the hull 22, leaving the tunnel 82 for the unimpeded flow of the water stream extending rearwardly therethrough to the propeller of the outboard engine. rl'he buoyant filling 26 of foam plastic or other suitable material enhances the buoyancy of the boat 20 as a whole and maintains the buoyancy even though either of the floats or pontoons 24 should leak or be punctured during use. The downwardly-bent forward lower portion 48 of the bow plate 46 fends or deilects the bow water downward either into the tunnel 82 or beneath the bottom plates 76 of the floats or pontoons 24. The splash rails 97 of the elongated bottom and side plank coupling members 96 and the base portions 136 and outer flanges 140 of the gunwale bars 134 intercept and deflect downward spray coming upward from the region of the floats or pontoons 24.

The hand rails 150 assist the passengers of the boat in maintaining their positions in rough water or while standing up, as well as in entering and leaving the craft. The various elongated channel coupling members 54, 96, 108 and 162 and the gunwale bars 134 and trim strip 128 not only protect the edges of the planks or plates to which they are secured, but also enhance the rigidity of the hull 22. The bilge strakes 84 (FIGURE 1l) serve as runners to facilitate drawing or pulling-the hull 22 upward upon a beach, as well as relieving the bottom plates 70 from otherwise bearing the entire weight of the boat 20 as they otherwise would. Furthermore, these couplings members facilitate the assembly of the various cornponents of the boat 20 during manufacture upon a mass production scale, by the use of straight-line assembly methods of production.

What I claim is:

1. A boat comprising two elongated hollow floats disposed in laterally-spaced parallel relationship,

and a boat hull having a substantially horizontal bottom structure resting upon and structurally interconnecting said floats and defining with said iioats a longitudinal tunnel extending between said oats and beneath said bottom structure substantially from bow to stern of said hull,

said hull having a pair of side structures disposed vertically in laterally-spaced substantially parallel relationship above said bottom structure,

a bow structure extending between said side structures and rising from the forward end of said bottom structure,

a stern structure extending between said side structures and rising from the rearward portion of said bottom structure,

and elongated channel coupling members having channels receiving and spaced anges engaging and connecting the adjacent edge portions of certain of said structures to one another,

said channel coupling members extending longitudinally along substantially the entire lengths of the structures which they interconnect.

2. A boat, according to claim 1, wherein one of said coupling members has the channels thereof disposed substantially at right angles to one another.

3. A boat, according to claim 2, wherein the coupling member therein set forth has a laterally-extending splashintercepting flange projecting outwardly therefrom.

4. A boat, according to claim 1, wherein another of said coupling members has two oppositely-directed channels and a third channel disposed transversely thereto.

5. A boat, according to claim 4, wherein the third channel is disposed obliquely to said oppositely-directely channels.

6. A boat, according to claim 4, wherein the third channel is disposed substantially at right angles to the two oppositely-directed channels.

7. A boat, according to claim 1, wherein another of said coupling structures has a base portion with a iirst gunwale bar is mounted on the upper edge portion of each side structure and has an approximately vertical channel receiving said upper edge portion and a downwardly-flanged approximately horizontal base portion a plurality of times wider than said channel extending outwardly therefrom.

10. A boat, according to claim 1, wherein each of said floats has bottom and side walls and also has an elongated \1u.b strake with a bottom portion of approximately arcuate cross-section secured to said bottom wall and extending downwardly therefrom.

11. A boat, according to claim 10, wherein said rub strake has fianges projecting from the opposite longitudial edges of said approximately arcuate cross-section bottom portion substantially at right angles to one another, one of said anges being secured to said bottom wall and the other tlange being secured to said side wall of said float.

12. A boat comprising two elongated hollow floats disposed in laterally-spaced parallel relationship,

and a boat hull having a substantially horizontal bottom structure resting upon and structurally interconnecting said floats and defining with said iloats a longitudinal tunnel extending between said floats and beneath said bottom structure substantially from bow to stern of said hull, y

said hull having a pair of side structures disposed vertically in laterally-spaced substantially parallel relationship above said bottom structure,

a bow structure extending between said side structures and rising from the forward end of said bottom structure,

and a stern structure extending between said said side structures and rising from the rearward portion of said bottom structure,

said stern structure including a transom member spaced forwardly of the rearward ends of said side structures and said bottom structurehaving an opening therein extending from the rearward end thereof to said transom member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,819 2/49 Hall 9-6 2,572,623 10/51 Hoppenstand 9-6 2,775,218 12/56 Kapusnyk 114-61 2,776,637 1/57 Chadwick 114-77 X 2,950,701 8/60 De Stefani 114-61 2,975,747 3/61 Opie 114-61 3,007,224 11/ 61 Wean.

3,065,724 11/62 Tritt 114-88 3,093,935 6/63 Dunn 50-404 3,119,128 1/64 Edmondson 9 2 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOAT COMPRISING TWO ELONGATED HOLLOW FLOATS DISPOSED IN LATERALLY-SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, AND A BOAT HULL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BOTTOM STRUCTURE RESTING UPON AND STRUCTURALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID FLOATS AND DEFINING WITH SAID FLOATS A LONGITUDINAL TUNNEL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FLOATS AND BENEATH SAID BOTTOM STRUCTURE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM BOW TO STERN OF SAID HULL, SAID HULL HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE STRUCTURES DISPOSED VERTICALLY IN LATERALLY-SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP ABOVE SAID BOTTOM STRUCTURE, A BOW STRUCTURE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE STRUCTURES AND RISING FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID BOTTOM STRUCTURE, A STERN STRUCTURE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE STRUCTURES AND RISING FROM THE REARWARD PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM STRUCTURE, AND ELONGATED CHANNEL COUPLING MEMBERS HAVING CHANNELS RECEIVING AND SPACED FLANGES ENGAGING AND CONNECTING THE ADJACENT EDGE PORTIONS OF CERTAIN OF SAID STRUCTURES TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID CHANNEL COUPLING MEMBERS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTHS OF THE STRUCTURES WHICH THEY INTERCONNECT. 